Three Kingdoms: Heir of Wolong, my father-in-law is Guan Gong

Chapter 48 Tsukatora appears: King Wei, it’s time to take medicine
  In Chang'an, the pungent smell of medicinal residue filled the mansion.

The traitorous man who used to ride his horse and whip his whip has also reached his twilight years.

Since Cao Cao went to Hanzhong with an illness, his condition has been getting worse day by day.

"King Wei, it's time to take medicine."

The cautious voice rang in Cao Cao's ears. It was Sima Yi, the Prime Minister's Army Sima.

The moment Cao Cao opened his eyes, Sima Yi suddenly felt a strong killing intent, and his clothes were soaked with sweat in an instant.

"It's Zhongda." After confirming the identity of the person in front of him, the murderous intent in Cao Cao's eyes disappeared in an instant.

Sima Yi was frightened in his heart and did not dare to be negligent in the slightest. He carefully handed the medicine bowl to Cao Cao: "King Wei, this is the medicine that Mr. Zhi personally prepared. The medicine was inspected by Director Jiang and I."

Cao Cao was very suspicious.

Especially after he withdrew from Hanzhong, Cao Cao became even more suspicious because of his worsening condition.

Not only were the Prime Minister's Army Sima Sima Yi and the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff Jiang Ji to inspect the medicine together, but Cao Zhi, who was accompanying the army, was also asked to prepare the medicine himself.

It's obvious that Cao Cao doesn't trust anyone, not even his own son Cao Zhi!
  After Sima Yi finished speaking, Cao Cao picked up the medicine bowl and drank the medicine in one gulp.

Feeling a little more warmth in his body, Cao Cao closed his eyes again to rest. It wasn't until the headache caused by the wind in his head was relieved a lot that he opened his eyes again.

"Has Liu Bei made any moves recently?"

Withdrawing from Hanzhong does not mean that we no longer pay attention to Hanzhong.

In the past year, Cao Cao's wars have been unfavorable one after another.

Xiahou Yuan of Hanzhong was beheaded, Cao Ren of Xiangyang failed in his campaign against Guan Yu, and Sun Quan confronted Xiahou Dun, Zang Ba, Yangzhou governor Wenhui and others in Hefei.

All the states were garrisoned.

In the Hanzhong War, the corvee was too heavy, which made the people afraid of long-distance service, and civil strife broke out.

Hanzhong, Xiangyang, and Huainan are unfavorable in external three-front operations, and internally the states are unstable.

The ministers in Xudu and Yecheng who faced Cao Cao saw that Cao Cao's three battles were not going well, and there were signs that they were ready to take action.

Internal and external troubles continued one after another, which was why Cao Cao could not rest in peace and recuperate.

Sima Yi was about to speak but stopped.

Seeing Sima Yi looking like this, Cao Cao already had a guess in his mind that it must be another bad news.

"Speak frankly." Cao Cao's tone was a little colder.

Sima Yi took a cautious breath, looked at Cao Cao's expression carefully, and reported in a low voice: "Liu Bei sent Meng Da stationed in Yidu County to send troops to Fangling, and Kuai Qi, the governor of Fangling, died in the battle."

"Shen Dan, the prefect of Shangyong, and Shen Yi, the prefect of Xicheng, gathered the crowd to surrender."

When Cao Cao heard the news, he was not angry but laughed: "Liu Xuande was lucky enough to win a single battle in Hanzhong, but he ignored the weakness of Yizhou and forcibly launched a war in Jingzhou. Liu Xuande can't understand the principle of prosperity and decline!"

Seeing Cao Cao's sneer, Sima Yi cautiously advised: "Liu Bei must have the intention of taking Xiangfan by seizing the three counties of Fangling, Shangyong and Xicheng at this time."

"Privately, I think that Hu Xiu, the governor of Jingzhou, is rough and disrespectful to the people, and Fu Fang, the governor of Nanxiang, is arrogant, extravagant and does not listen to others. They are not suitable for garrisoning in important border areas."

"You can take advantage of the fact that Liu Bei has not yet officially entered Xiangfan and replaced the two."

Cao Cao's eyes suddenly became sharp, and his eyes like poisonous snakes stared at Sima Yi: "Zhongda thinks that anyone should be appointed to replace Hu Xiu and Fu Fang?"

Sima Yi broke out in a cold sweat again, and he quickly lowered his head and said: "Jingzhou and Nanxiang are both important towns. It is up to the King of Wei to decide who to appoint."

This is the difference between Cao Cao and Liu Bei.

When Cao Cao discussed the replacement of officials in important towns in front of Cao Cao, the first thing Cao Cao considered was not whether the officials were really incompetent, but whether the recommenders wanted to recommend cronies to form cliques for personal gain.

For Cao Cao, it didn't matter whether he was rude and disrespectful to the people, nor whether he was arrogant and extravagant. What mattered was who recommended this person!

"Changing generals before battle is a taboo for military strategists." Cao Cao rejected Sima Yi's advice in just eight words. Sima Yi gritted his teeth and remonstrated: "Liu Bei has robbed the three eastern counties. The generals in Xiangfan who conquered the south are not strong enough. King Wei still needs to send more generals to help."

As Cao Cao's military commander, Sima Yi had to give advice.

It is Cao Cao's business whether to accept it, but it is Sima Yi's responsibility to give advice.

"Get the map!"

Cao Cao did not reject Sima Yi's proposal this time.

Liu Bei has launched a new military operation. If Cao Cao ignores it, it is equivalent to sitting back and waiting for death.

As his eyes scanned the map carefully, Cao Cao's inner response gradually became clear.

"Most of Liu Xuande's troops are stationed in Hanzhong. After capturing Xicheng, Shangyong and Fangling, Hanzhong's soldiers can take the Han River and go straight to Xiangfan."

"The Han River can flow downstream, but it is difficult to go upstream. Liu Xuande's main army does not dare to easily leave the Han River and enter Jingzhou if you are alone in Chang'an."

"You can send an isolated order to Xu Huang to send his troops into Wancheng, and together with Pang De from Wancheng, he will respond to Cao Ren."

Cao Cao saw the situation clearly.

Liu Bei currently does not have the ability to fight on two fronts.

As long as Cao Cao is still in Chang'an, Liu Bei's troops in Hanzhong will not dare to act rashly even if they capture the three eastern counties.

What Cao Cao wants to guard against is Guan Yu in Nanjun.

Let Xu Huang enter Wancheng because he was worried about Pang De's lack of ability.

After all, Pang De's old master Ma Chao and his brother Pang Rou were both in Hanzhong, so Cao Cao had to deal with it carefully.

And Xu Huang would never betray Cao Cao.

At the same time, Xu Huang is also one of Cao Cao's generals with a foreign surname who is best at commanding troops.

With Xu Huang going to Wancheng to take charge, Cao Cao could rest in peace and recuperate in Chang'an.

Sima Yi originally wanted to persuade Cao Cao to allocate more capable generals to Wancheng, but he swallowed back the idea when he thought of Cao Cao's temper.

After thinking about the war in Jingzhou, Cao Cao felt that his head hurt even more, so he asked Sima Yi to use a quilt to prop him up and lie down on the quilt.

"Zhongda, do you think Zhi'er can be of great use?" Cao Cao closed his eyes and asked while recuperating.

Sima Yi was walking on thin ice and felt his legs trembling.

King Wei, can I answer this?

Since ancient times, as long as there is a dispute over heirs, there will be bloodshed.

Although Cao Pi is now the crown prince, no one can be sure that Cao Pi will be the next King of Wei.

Accompanying a king is like accompanying a tiger, especially a jealous tiger like Cao Cao. If you are not careful, you will have to experience the "your wife and my adopted son, don't worry about it" package.

"Young Master Zhi is extremely filial." Sima Yi bowed his head and responded.

Cao Cao couldn't help but frown.

Sima Yi's answer is really to avoid the important and ignore the important.

I asked you if you could be of great use, would you answer with utmost filial piety?

Although he was not satisfied with Sima Yi's answer, Cao Cao also heard some metaphors.

It's obvious to all that Cao Zhi has filial piety, but as for his ability, that's all.

"Perhaps this is also an opportunity to test Zhi'er."

Cao Cao only decided to go to Wancheng with Xu Huang. He actually had an idea in mind: Cao Cao wanted to give Cao Zhi the opportunity to lead his troops and make meritorious deeds!
  (End of this chapter)